Your Shoes as Inspiration for an Interior Design? Yes, Please!

If you're a fan of many different shoes and designers, chances are you also love having a similar interior filled with inspiring elements from your shoes. Interiors can be inspired by many accent pieces, from a favorite color, to a band, and even your favorite pair of shoes! Love Christian Louboutin pumps? Design your room with pops of red and black and make your heels the focal point! Are Juicy Couture flats your favorite go-to shoes? Make your room playful and colorful, just like your love for the brand. Here are some examples to get you started:

If you love pastel colors because they make you happy and are very lovely, use this pastel wedge below as your interior inspiration. With sweet colors that cover many different elements, such as chevron pastel pillows and vintage towels and blankets, this sort of interior will become your own personal retreat.

Shoes via The Berry.com & Pastel Interior via 79 Ideas

If you're looking to create a peaceful oasis, well, you need a dreamy pair of shoes to point you in the right direction first! Flip flops that are made with an easy going and tranquil design will inspire you to create a calming retreat. If you love the ocean there's nothing better than a dreamy room filled with ocean blue accents. Also, don't forget other elements such as water wall signs, plants, and turquoise pillows. You'll love relaxing and enjoying a room that will remind you of the ocean on a consistent basis.

Ocean Flip Flops via Nine West and Ocean Living Room via Favim.com

If you'd rather go for a sparkly and glam interior, why not use a pair of Christian Louboutin pumps as inspiration? The shoes most likely glam up your life and make going out all the more fun due to their height, sparkles, and amazing design. Have fun coming up with an interior of your dreams that's as chic as your favorite pair of Louboutin shoes and you'll feel glamorous every single day.

Louboutin Pumps via wishwall.me and Interior via Diva Rocker Glam

So do your shoes inspire you to be creative now? Decorating a luxe interior is as simple as what you choose as your inspiration. Look deep inside your closet full of dreamy shoes and pull out your favorite pair. It's time to decorate and have some fun creating the space of your dreams!

Paige One loves writing about fashion and interior design. Infuse them together and you'll have glam interiors that are stunning!

Jessica Simpson Offers Perfect Pumps

Whenever I go shopping I like to snap pics of pumps, especially if they are trendy or super cute. You all know my love for Jessica Simpson shoes, and coming across her pumps (especially new ones), are my favorite!

What I love about Jessica Simpson shoes is that they are all so creative and comfortable! To be honest the last time I've owned a pair of Jessica Simpson pumps was quite a few years ago...but a girl can appreciate them from afar, right? I think it's about time I own a pair of JS pumps and go out and have some fun with them on.

This is a picture I took in Nordstrom I believe when I saw this shoe design. It definitely looks better in person as opposed to on the website. I love the fun colors on the blue, yellow, and green shoe. I think JS definitely did a great job at infusing creativity into these pumps, don't you think?

This pump is my personal favorite. The blue suede and the peachy orange bottom part of the pump looks amazing. So I'm definitely ready to find a fun pair of pumps from Jessica Simpson. Are you?

New Silver Sparkly TOMS Shoes - What Do You Think?

Lately I've taken quite a liking to Instagram, an application on your smart phone where you can take pictures and post them. Then you can interact with others! It's so much fun - it's like Twitter and Facebook combined. If you're not on Instagram you should definitely join and if you do come and find me, I'm oceandreams4u. I've been having fun posting pics of my latest fashion finds, which of course includes shoes. ;)

So a few days ago I got my first pair of TOMS. I really like them, they're really sparkly and stylish. Plus, as you know, I love that TOMS will match my shoe purchase for a pair of shoes that will be given to a child in need.

 {via my Instagram}

I showed my new TOMS to my family and they think they are hideous looking. They love the idea behind TOMS, but they don't like the sparkles on the shoes. So now I'm coming to you asking you what you think. Are the sparkles too much? Should I have gotten a more basis pair?

I thought it would be fun having a sparkly pair of TOMS and a girl can never go wrong with sparkles, or so I thought. Then I showed it to my mom and she didn't like them. My brother and my dad had an even stronger reaction. Oops, that's not good.

I'm considering taking them back and getting a different pair, but I think I'll wear my pair of silver sparkly shoes proudly. After all, I'm a glam girl and I like my glam shoes. ;)

What do you think of my silver sparkly TOMS?

Disney Princesses Shoe Collections Make-Over

We all have a princess deep inside and that's why we have to care about the girls who raised us: The Disney Princesses.

I remember my granny reading Cinderella and Snow White to me. I would slide down Rapunzel's hair and land right into Dreamland with Sleeping Beauty. I had a read-along book and cassette (did I just give away my antiquity?) with Rapunzel's story which I listened to until I was at least 10 years old. 

Oh man! I loved those stories. I could listen to them over and over without ever tiring. 

On my way to Dreamland last night, contemplating the much more gruesome book I am busy reading, the Princesses popped into my head for some reason and I realized that they need a make-over. Their shoes are just not sensible and I think they'll find their dream princes more easily if they wore sensible shoes. These ladies need some serious help and we're here to help them.

Here are my suggestions:

Aurora runs around in thorny bushes to rescue her dream prince. The girl needs some running shoes!

Nothing like pink New Balance to help a girl pick up a guy speed!

Our beloved mermaid, Ariel has been complaining that her man wants her to wear fishnet stockings lately. So when the fishtail disappears and she shows of her pins, she has to make the most of it. 

Tell me this Aria - Teal Soft Patent was not made especially for her?

Snow White is a busy girl. She runs after seven dwarfs all day and doing that on heels is simply impossible. Finding something to match her dress style is hard, but I found something that we can both wear to compliment both our styles.

Pretty cute, don't you think?

Jasmine is an adventurous and stylish jet setter - or is it a mat sitter? She loves bling and glamour and is a fun retail therapy friend!

These are so very amazing!

I don't know what the Fairy Godmother thought when she gave Cinderella glass shoes. Really, has she ever been to a party where the bubbly flowed and the music boomed? That is completely impractical, pretty irresponsible and potentially lethal!

Cindy would NEVER have lost these!

At the moment I feel as though I have a close affinity with Sleeping Beauty. It could have to do with a long day in the office, or just the feel of perfectly pedicured feet slipping into a pair of delightfully beautiful slippers...

I could fall asleep just looking at this comfy slipper!

Do you like my suggestions? Which princess are you? Me - I'm going to be Sleeping Beauty now!

Author Erica Negi's Shoes Led Her Where?

In all of my book experiences, I never thought befriending an author on Twitter would lead me to read a wonderful book because it has always been the other way around. But I wouldn't change it for the world, because getting to know Erica via Twitter has allowed me a little peek into her life. This enticed me to purchase her book My Life in Loubies and read it. Not only did I enjoy it, but I asked if I could interview her and have her share some of her insight on writing her book and her love for shoes with you. She even gives us advice on how to write our own novel one day!

Now sit back, find a nice cup of coffee, put on a pair of Loubies, and enjoy!

1. Please tell us a little about yourself and what initiated your passion for writing. 

The story combined with my professional endeavors allowed me to not only address love and relationships like many novels out there, but business as well. (The modern-day female entrepreneur in Loubies--aka the unstoppable woman on “Mission Success.”) Some of my earliest remembers revolve around books and telling stories. In fact, I hand wrote and self-illustrated my first book, My Little Sister Penny, in third grade--a huge hit with my parents (check out this picture at the bottom of the post)! I loved the idea of creating a story from beginning to end, it was so magical. This eventually led me get my Masters from the University of Pennsylvania in Reading-Writing-Literacy and serve as a Reading Specialist in classrooms in Pennsylvania and California. While working with students, I saw a need for personalized, inquiry-based teaching and addressed it by specifically tailoring instruction methods. My field of work combined with my childhood passion led to me to write My Life in Loubies, which deals with many of the core values that I’ve addressed professionally. 

2. Where did you come up with the idea for your book, My Life In Loubies? I love it by the way!

I started writing My Life in Loubies after I had my son, which was one the best moments in my life. It was then when I began to question what makes people happy, truly happy? Is it a lifestyle? Or the material objects? Love? And that's where the story began.

And as for the “Loubies,” I wanted to take my readers on a journey, literally in the “shoes” that the main character loves and strives to attain.

3. For those of us who have not read the book yet, do you mind giving us an enticing summary?

Is having everything worth sacrificing who you really are?

Meet Vanessa, an almost thirty-something New Yorker who thinks she's got it all: marriage-material boyfriend Ethan, her own bilingual preschool, a closet full of designer fashions, and daily diner dates with her best friend Emily. But when Ethan doesn't turn out to be all he's supposed to be, Vanessa's world instantly unravels.

Accompany her on a journey with love, friendship and family as she tries to “have it all.”

4. What are your plans for the future? Do you hope to write another book?

Currently, I am working on a first draft of "Book 2." It’s not a sequel to My Life in Loubies, per se. Rather a story about marriage and family--the coveted yet complicated relationships. (That’s all I can say at the moment, but stay tuned!)

5. Okay, we are all dying to know. Do you own a pair of Loubies? What is your favorite pair of Loubies? 

Yes, I do! I love them, but my size is impossible to come by thanks to my petite nature. I normally wear a size five, but in Loubies I am a four! It’s literally like finding a needle in a haystack. But the fabulous sales associates manage do their magic and find a pair! So, I have the classic black platform pumps and the black patent ballerina flats. (And with my son, I have been getting good mileage in the flats!)

6. If there's one piece of advice that you would like to offer to shoe lovers who might want to branch out into writing a book, what would it be?

 {Erica's "First Book"}

Listen to your heart first. I know, it sounds cheesy, but it’s so easy to get discouraged and sidetracked. It also helps to write about a subject you are well-versed in as I chose to by creating a female entrepreneur in the Education field.  So, if you want to write about shoes, fiction or nonfiction, go for it. Write a little bit everyday and see where “your shoes” lead you!  

Thanks so much for sharing with us Erica! Please purchase her book on Amazon and find her on Twitter - she's such a joy to tweet with! 

Brides and Their Delightfully Colored Wedding Shoes

Summer is finally here (well, for most of us,) and for many people, they love to get married during the warm months! I personally would like to get married in a cooler climate such as the 70s or 80s, which would perhaps put me into the Fall time in certain states. I don't think I could stand to be married in the blazing hot temps of 90 or above, especially if it was outside!

I don't know if you are familiar with the website Pinterest, but I happen to be addicted to this site. It's so much fun to "pin" pictures from the web, not only to organize you photos into different folders while dreaming, but to know exactly where they come from simply by clicking on the photo. It will bring you straight to the website, which is fantastic because you can keep track of the correct source! Anyway, lately I've seen several wedding photos of brides with the most gorgeous shoes, and specifically a lot of shoes with color!

I think the shoes on a bride's feet show off her personality. If you are a sassy bride you might want to wear hot pink shoes or a pair of Nike shoes with hot pink shoe laces! If you are an elegant bride you might go for a classic designer in a beige pair of heels. Or, you might be somewhere in between and decide to wear a sparkly pair of flip flops. Whatever you decide, I truly think that any type of shoe will flatter your wedding dress because you are wearing something that compliments you. I'm thinking that walking down in a pair of flats as opposed to a pair of heels might be more comfortable, but you might be able to find a comfy pair of pumps that are bright and fun, so never say never! :)

As I mentioned, I've been seeing a lot of photos with brides in brightly colored shoes. I am loving this trend and I happen to think a splash of color is exactly what a white wedding dress needs. Plus it's so playful and fun! Most of the time the audience won't see the shoes anyway until after the wedding when the bride can reveal her shoes. In a way a bride's brightly colored shoes are her best kept secret! They are also a silent delight to the bride who is wearing them as walks down the aisle and later dances with her groom. Let's look at some photos that I found that represent some shoe color inspiration!

This beautiful bride is in her element in her bright pink heels. The gorgeous ruffled elements on her heels seem to pop with color in every direction.

Similar to the hot pink pumps, these light pink shoes are very elegant and classy. I love the ruffles and how it ties in perfectly with the bottom part of her wedding dress.

Purple pumps are just darling and look at the bouquet!! The jewel and bow on her heels seals the deal.

Green is very earthy and these pair of shoes almost look vintage - I love the feeling that they give you by simply glancing at them on her feet. You can see the trees in the distance.

Blue pumps!! That's what I am talking about. The heels are a bit more thicker, which would make it easier to walk down the aisle as opposed to skinny heels. I love the pure joy that is on this bride's face!

So what do you think of wearing colored and bright shoes for your wedding day?

Even if you aren't getting married, would you wear a colored pair of heels with your wedding dress?

I definitely would love to consider wearing a pair of heels that are either hot pink or blue someday. I love that these brides aren't afraid of color. It's daring, bold, and beautiful, all at the same time.

Try On a New Pair of Shoes

You might be slightly surprised when you read that recently I've gained a new found love for pumps. I've always loved them, but after my first year at the age of 22 in the corporate world, I wore them almost daily and my feet hurt! I remember running into work a little bit late at times in my tight pencil skirt and 4 inch heels. I enjoyed how I felt in them, however my feet were screaming. Perhaps I should have only worn them for certain lengths of time to preserve my feet. I plum wore my feet out and my fashion sense in pumps gave way to flats.

After that year of working my first real job I rarely wore heels. I met a man who loved me in flats and I was happy to oblige and wear my flats and flip flops all of the time. However, a part of me missed that old Sierra. The girl who wore her pencil skirt and high heels. The girl who felt confident in her Jessica Simpson pumps while filing and talking to her co-workers. It added a little fashion in her daily routine.

Lately, about 5 years later, I've been in the mood to wear pumps again. I've worn them off and on throughout the years since my first real job, but not as frequently. I have to admit that flip flops have been my main source of shoe decor. So I'm coming up with a plan to revamp my feet and my shoe wardrobe. My idea is that I won't wear pumps and wedges for super long periods of time, but for shorter lengths of time so I can still have fun! After seeing all of the amazing shoes up for auction on ITSDF, my heart skips a beat when I see Christian Louboutin pumps among all of the other marvelous shoes. Then I begin to wonder inside my mind. Why can't I be like a girl from Sex In the City and pull off these shoes again? I don't see why I can't. So I am going to try wearing my beloved pumps again.

Oh, the boyfriend may be against my new 4 inch height enhancement, yet he should have no concerns due to his height, which is over 6'. Besides, I already have fallen in love with someone new. Well, not someone since my heart belongs to my love, but something new. New as in shoes! Yes! Recently I went to DSW and set my eyes on these amazing pumps:

I just had to have them. So guess what I did? I bought them. I couldn't help myself and besides it goes with my new goal to incorporate pumps and wedges back into my life! I love the comfort of these wedges. I'm constantly looking for shoes that not only have style and appeal, but that are comfortable too. If I can find a shoe that looks amazing and also has comfort, well then it is a great "fit!" This Zigisoho wedge shoe is a dream shoe for me. With its elastic and soft fabric cushioning the back of my heel, I know for certain I won't get blisters. In fact I know that the only discomfort I may have is from the added height!

However, I'm determined to try on a new pair of shoes. This pair of Zigishohos are my first shot at trying a shoe with some major height again. What do you think? Can I pull it off or will I fall flat on my face? I'd rather chance it and enjoy the wedges while I can. Besides, spring is here and I want to feel happy. I want to feel free. I want to try on a new pair of shoes and walk in someone else's feet for a time while still being me.

Before I go, I'd like to announce that we have a giveaway going on at our Facebook page and we'd love for you to enter! Shoes & songs sound so good! Enter to win a $25 iTunes Giftcard on our Facebook Dare To Win giveaway! The contest ends on April 8 so hurry and enter!


I know I use this phrase quite often, but I still love it so here we go again: have a shoe-tastic weekend!

Showgirls...

My inspiration was showgirls…I started my career working for the Folies Bergère, and ended up combining shoes and showgirls.

~Christian Louboutin

I Can Do Anything...

Oh,  I can do anything in high heels.

~Holly Jankofsky

Initial Thoughts

Shoes. While they’re undoubtedly a necessity, they’re also the subject of many a splurge, the talk of countless conversations among girlfriends, sometimes the reason given for an outstanding athletic performance. They’re made to protect feet but also to decorate them.

People of all walks love them and for lots of reasons. They’ve been embedded into popular culture. There are entire movies based around them: The Wizard of Oz, Cinderella, The Devil Wears Prada, The Christmas Shoes, and In Her Shoes. Musicians have been writing and singing songs about them for years: Elvis had his Blue Suede Shoes and The Beatles had an Old Brown Shoe, KC and the Sunshine Band had Boogie Shoes, Nelly had an outright obsession with his Air Force Ones, and Nancy Sinatra had a one wicked pair of boots.

Walk a mile in my shoes, wouldn’t want to be in his shoes, goody two shoes, who’s going to fill their shoes… there are lots of sayings we use about shoes; in fact, shoes have infiltrated the way we talk. If someone said, “I would kill for some Jimmy Choo’s” or “Check out my new Nike’s” most people would know exactly what they’re talking about.

Bowling, ballet, baseball, skiing, skating running, climbing, hiking, the beach, the bath, the bedroom; for the work room, for the weekend… each sport we do, each place we go, a person needs a different pair of shoes for every little thing they do. It’s no wonder there is such an obsession with shoes!

And while everyone needs them, some of us want them just a little bit more. Some people want 100 pair; 300 pair, 1000 pair! We want shoes in leopard print and purple patterns and every imaginable height heel. We want shoes for $1.00 but we'd pay $1000 and eat less (it makes the shoes look better anyway). We want vintage as well as new and special releases. We want to bronze them (it started when we were very young...), and we want to display them like art. We want the funky, the freaky, the fabulous. We wear odd sizes, or average sizes, it doesn't matter. Our boyfriends and husbands think we're crazy, our girlfriends think we're goddesses. What can I say, some us were born to be shoe addicts, and we've learned to live with it.

Take a breath… all you Carrie Bradshaws of the world, there is now a place to connect shoe lovers everywhere.  If The Shoe Doesn't Fit, is an auction site for shoe lovers.  A place to sell, swap or shop for shoes and shoe accessories, and this is the site's blog, dedicated to connecting all those people, whose lives are touched by shoes, in some way, for whatever reason. 

I hope you'll join me, and our contributing bloggers in a conversation as we chat about shoes, life, and everything in between. 

(Note -- portions of this post were originally posted on Speaker In Heels)